Liquid-dispensing apparatus



May 22, 1928.

A. F. TONKEL LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed March 10, 1927 an, $2. ATTQRNE Pmniea Ma 22.1928. UNITED STATES PATENT orries.

man 1'. menu, or roar warms, marina, mononro wan-n coxrm, or, a roar wanna, nmrnu, 'A. convene-non or nmnma mem-msrrmsme mm'rua Application fled latch 10, 1987. Serial I0. 174,178.-

My invention relates to liquid measuring and dispensing apparatus ofthe so-called visible type, having a transparent elevated reservoir into .which extends a vertically -6, adjustable tube; and particularly to such apparatus equipped with positive quantity stop mechanism. I In some of this visible apparatus the vertically adjustable tube is on the drain-back side of the apparatus,that is, it is adapted to return some of the liquid in the elevated container to the stora e tank and what remains in the elevate container .is served to the customer; .while in others the verti- 16 cally adjustable tube is on the serve side of the apparatus, that is, it is adapted to convey liquid from the elevated container through the serve outlet to the customer. My invention is applicable to either type 20 and any form thereof, whether hand or power operated, having a rotating shaft for raising and lowering the tube.

The principal object of my invention is to provide means for preventing change of the position of the vertically adjustable tube while the serve valve is open, thus ensuring honest measurement of the liquid dispensed.

The particular embodiment of my invention selected for illustration is applied to a an visible dispensing apparatus having the vertically adjustable tube on the overflow side. Figure 1 is an elevation of such an appa} ratus, the upper part ,of the casing and the lower part of the elevated container and top-' 5 head being broken away and in section to show that portion of the mechanism which embodies the invention. The upper part of the fill-tube is also broken away. The servevalve is closed;

Fig. 2, an enlarged detail, is the clutchthrowing mechanism in -the casing, shown in the position ,it'takes when the serve-valve 1s 0 en. a

Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3-3.

of Fig. 2. p Fig. 4 a detail, is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2. a 1

5, a detail, is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2, and I Fig.6, adetail, is a top plan viewof the cross head used in adjusting the vertical height of the tube N.

Referring now to the drawings, A is a casing housing. the general .0 rating mechanism, with pedestal a at t e bottom and cylindrical glass container G above resting on the bottomead c, which in turn is Seated upon and secured to the casing A. Acover 0 surmounts the container 0 and through an opening a in the bottom-head c the gasoline flows to ,the. ipe o and thence throu h the valve V to t' e serve hose Y when t 1e yalve-lever v is raised. The valve ,is closed in the position shown in Figure 1.

.The valve-lever '0 and the throw-out lever o are both rotatively fixed to the valve rod *0 so that when the valve-lever v is raised the throw-outlever v is raised also, and through the connecting rod' d rotates the cam -D, pivoted at d to the shifter-rod d, to the other endof which is secured a fork d seated in the peripheral groove of a clutch d*, rotatably secured to the shaft E b spline 6, said clutch d being normally eld in contact with the clutch-teeth of the gear e by spring 8..

Gear e is free to rotate on the shaft E, but when rotatably securedthereto by means of the clutch members d, a it raises or lowers the rack R with which it is constantly ,in mesh. Y

- A suitable bearing plate F is secured to the casin A and on one endof it is formed a cylindrical boss f bored ,toform a bearing for the shaft E, and'on its other end is formed a bearing for the shaft of the roll 5;, which presses against the back of the rack keep ng it pressed forward into constant meshing contact with the gear a.

Abearing block G is secured by a clamp g and bolts 9 g to the fill pipe B,-which extends upwardly into thevisible container, and through which the liquid to be dispensed is delivered thereto. The bearing block G is drilled to form bearings for the shafts J and E, heretofore described, and against the end of this bearing block the cam D bears when rotated ,into the position shown in Fig. 2.

Aconduit through which liquid is drained 10o from the elevated container 0 back to the storage tank (not shown) consists of an upper portion M, aconnecting portion M and a lower portion M A vertically adjustable tube N, open at both. ends, is adapted to be raised and lowered, the upper end always remaining in the elevated container 0 and the lower end always remaining in-the upper-portion M of the drain-back conduit. Vertical movement of the tube N is effected through the rod n, the upper end of which is secured to the lower end of the tube N, and the lower end of the rod n is secured to a cross-head H, guided by rod h operating through guide lugs 7' secured to the rack R. The rod It is secured at its top and bottom to the casing or other fixed parts of the apparatus. The rod n passes through any suitable stufiing-box (not shown) in the bottom of the connecting portion M. The rack is secured at its lower end to the cross-head H so that upon rotation of the crank e when the clutch elements e d are in mesh, it will raise or lower rack R, cross-head H, rod n and tube N. When the clutch elements are disengaged rotation of the crank a does not raise or lower the tube N or rack R. The clutch elements are always disengaged when the serve valve V is open, that is, when the serve-valve lever o is in raised position.

Stop mechanism of any suitable kind ma be used. That shown and designated as on the drawings and particularly in Fig. 1 is the subject of pending application of William F. Brandt, Serial No. 184,664 filed Apr. 18, 1927. a

I do not limit myself to the mechanism herein shown but claim as within the scope of m invention any apparatus readable on the c aims.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. In a liquid dispensing apparatus having an elevated liquid container, a serve outlet from said container and a valve therefor, a vertically adjustable tube extendin from below into said container, a shaft an shaftactuated means for raising and lowering said tube, and means operable by opening of said valve for disenga in said tube-actuating means until the va ve is closed.

2. In a liquid dispensing apparatus having an elevated liquid container, a serve outlet from said container and a normally closed valve therefor, means for opening said valve, a vertically adjustable tube extending into said container, a rotatin shaft, a rack secured to said tube to raise and lower it, a loose gear on said shaft in mesh with said rack, a clutch, one member of which is rotatably secured to the shaft and the other to the contiguous face of the gear, means for normally holding said clutch elements in operative relation to each other, and means operable by 0 ening said valve for disengaging said clutc h.

3. In a liquid dispensing apparatus having an elevated liquid container, a serve outlet from said container and a normally closed valve therefor, means for opening said valve, a vertically adjustable tube extending into said container, a rotatin shaft, a rack secured to said tube to raise an lower it, a loose gear on said shaft in mesh with said rack, a clutch, one member of which is rotatably secured to the shaft and the other to the contiguous face of the gear, means for normally holding said clutch elements in operative relation to each other, acam adapte by its rotation to disengage said clutch elements, and connecting means between said cam and said valve-opening means whereb upon the opening of said valve said cam wi 1 be rotated and the clutch elements disengaged.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ALBERT F. TONKEL. 

